Automobile lock



March 18, 1924.`

K. scHERER AUTOMOBILE LOCK Filed Aug. 11, 1921 Patented filler. 18, 1924..

naar. srnrsgs KARL SCHEREI-t, OF NEVI YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMOBLE LOCK.

Application led August 11, 1921.` Serial No. 491,324.

To all whom t may concern:

Be lit known that KARL Scimmia, citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of yNew York and State of New York, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automobile Locks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to automobile locks. More particularly, it is directed to locking devices for preventing theft of automobiles or the, like vehicles.

@ne obj ect of this inventionis to provide a locking device of the char cter described which shall be simple in` construction and sure and effective in operation to a high degree.

Janother object is to provide a device of the character described which shall be adapted to serve simultaneously both asa locking device for preventing theft of the vehicle and as an emergency brake.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

rlhe invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scopev of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown one of various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle provided with an embodiment of this invention and showing the latter in both operative and inoperative position;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view cut along line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the lock- .ing device in front elevation with some of the parts in cross-section; and y Fig. 3 is a detailed partial cross-sectional view taken along` line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

Referring in detail to the drawing, 10, indicate the sides of the automobile chassis. Secured to each of these sides in any suitable manner are guide pieces 11, 11 each formed with a dovetail or other suitable groove 12, 12 in which are adapted to slide the dovetailed slide members 13, 13. These slide members are carried by a cross piece 14 extending across the width of the chassis and whichcross-piece is ,adaptedto be reciprocated in said channels 12in theinanf ner hereinafter described'. The rod 15 is rigidly secured adjacent one end of said cross-member and transversely thereof by means such as the sleeve 16. At the remote endy of the rod 15 is a toggle member comprising a pair of arms 17, 17 pivoted as at` 18 to the link 19 .whichis secured to the rod l5. arms 17, 17 is a rod 20, 20 arranged parallel to the cross member 14y supported respectively in suitable bearings 21, 22 carried by the front axle 23. Adjacent the middle of the cross piecei 14 is similarly secured as by `means of the sleeve `24 another' erating mechanism in the manner howto.

be described. y

This mechanism comprises the rock shaft 32 pivotally supported as at between` a pair of plates 34, 34 secured to the frame work of the vehicle as at 35. This rock shaft has its lower end bifurcated as at 36 so as to straddle the cross-member 14 and as the rock shaft is swung back and forth in a vertical plane about its pivot, it will reciprocate this cross member 14 in the channel guide pieces 11, 11 as will be readily understood. When the rock shaft is thrown in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3, the cross piece 14 moves into the dotted position shown in Fig. 1 carrying with it the rod 15 so as to produce a pull on the toggle joint causing the arm 17, 17 to flatten out into substantially a straight line, and at the same time forcing the brake rods 20, to enter between the spokes of the front wheels. At the same time, the lrod moves backward and pushes against the arms 26, 26 causing these to flatten out into a straight line as shown dotted in Fig. 1 and thus forcing the brake rods 29, 29 between the spokes Pivoted to each of the otherl ends of the made hollow to form a housing for a safev lock device substantially similar to the ordinary combination safe locks. In the form shown in the drawing, a rod 36 having a head portion 37 anda dia-l 38 is arranged for rotation within said rock shaft. This rod 36 carries at the end a projection or locking bolt member 38 adapted to enter into an opening 39 in one of the plates 34. Within the rock shaft is a casing 40 which contains the tumblers (not shown) arranged to operate the-combination so that when the dial is turned after the bolt 88 is registered in the opening 39, it is no longer possible to move the rock shaft eX- cept upon unlocking the tumblers through rotation of the dial in the usual manner of combination locks.

It will be noted that when the vehicle is running, the rock shaft may be left free for operation so that the operator or chauffeur who is located in the seat right behind the rock shaft may use the same as an emergency brake.

It will thus be seen that there is Vprovided apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to berunderstood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as Villustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent Y l. A' locking device for automobiles and like vehicles, comprising a vehicle frame, locking members adapted to engage the wheels of the vehicle, means for moving said locking members in and out of engagement with said wheels, said means comprising guideways on the frame, amember slidable in said guideways, a rock shaft operably connected to said member, a rod also connected to said member, and link connections between said rod and said locking members whereby the operation o said slide member operates said link connections to urge said locking members into and out of engagement with the wheels ot the vehicle.

2. A locking device for automobiles and the like vehicles having a chassis portion comprising a pair of guides secured to the sides of said chassis, a cross member es tending transversely of said sides carrying slide members adapted to be reciprocated within said guides, a rod secured to said cross member and extending toward the rear portion of the vehicle, another rod secured to said cross member and extending to the front of the vehicle, and toggle joints operatively secured respectively to each of said rods, and brake members pivoted to the arms of said toggle joints, and means for reciprocating said cross member as and for the purpose described and speciiied.

Signed at New York city, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 5th day of August 1921. Y j

KARL SCHERER. 

